A CRACKING Sunday of racing ahead with a typically competitive renewal of the Unibet Greatwood Hurdle in which there are numerous contenders as ever. Looking back at recent winners they have all had a prep run and this is true of my main selection Tegerek, who won here at the October meeting. In contrast, David Pipe’s runner Thinking Unibet 14/1 each way won’t have seen a racecourse for 811 days and is only having his third career start. This five-year-old is a very intriguing runner for a yard with a current strike rate of 20%.
Earlier on in the card, the Shloer Chase is a fascinating renewal with October winner Rouge Vif, Put The Kettle On and Defi Du Seuil in the field.
Enjoy!
Cheers!
The Wine Tipster
1.15 Cheltenham – Novice Chase (3m)
Solider Of Love can go one better here than when finishing second to the talented Galvin, who was scoring a four timer at the October meeting. Solider Of Love had won his previous four starts and had been making rapid improvement himself. Providing this good jumper can cope with the more testing conditions he has a good chance.
Unibet 100/30 win
1.50 Cheltenham – Handicap Chase (3m3½f)
Big River came from way out the back to finish fifth in the Ultima at The Festival when not beaten far and will clearly relish the conditions this afternoon. He is not an easy ride for his regular pilot Derek Fox and the application of cheekpieces has certainly helped as he didn’t wear these when running poorly at this meeting last year.
Big River has won after a break so don’t be concerned that this is his first start since The Festival.
Unibet 13/2 each way
2.25 Cheltenham – Shloer Chase Grade 2 (2m)
This mare Put The Kettle On showed plenty of determination and class to take the Arkle at The Festival beating Fakir D’oudaires, with Rouge Vif, who reopposes today, well back in third. This six-year-old is much improved and she certainly likes Cheltenham, having won last year here too at the November meeting. She is obviously improving, goes well fresh and gets ten pounds from Defi Du Seuil, who has something to prove after running disappointingly at The Festival.
Unibet 5/2 win
3.00 Cheltenham – Unibet Greatwood Hurdle (2m)
Tegerek (nap) for the Jonjo O’Neill team has race fitness to his advantage and a course success at Cheltenham at the October meeting when beating One True King (ran Friday 4.10) here last time out, with the two easily pulling clear of a good field. They were both clearly well handicapped and although the six-year-old Tegerek has been raised eight pounds for that success there looks to be plenty more to come. There is rain forecast and Tegerek was a ready winner on the soft at Huntingdon last year so ground no issue. Kevin Brogan once again claims seven pounds and he is brimming with confidence with a current strike rate of 55%!
Unibet 10/1 each way
Ballyandy might be overlooked because he is a nine-year-old, however he certainly has plenty of Cheltenham form in these conditions and has to be a great each way bet even off top weight.
On his seasonal debut at Ffos Las last time out he put in a rock solid performance behind Sceau Royal, who went on to win at Wincanton.
Unibet 14/1 each way
